Container valve



uFume 19, 1934. J. MILLS 1,963,797

CONTAI NER VALVE Filed Feb. 13, 1931 gn vo ntom Patented June 19, 1934PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER. VALVE John Mills, New York, N. Y., assignor toThe Food Processing Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation ofDelaware Application February 13, 1931, Serial No. 515,566

8 Claims.

This invention relates to containers for foods and more particularly toan improved valve for such containers.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a valve for acontainer which will readily withstand the strains of either vacuum orpressure within a container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve which may bequickly and easily applied to the end of a container.

Another object is to provide a container equipped with a suitable valveby means of which fluids may be withdrawn from or passed into thecontainer after which the valve may be closed to maintain the containersealed with various desired pressures therein at, above or belowatmospheric pressures.

Still other objects of the invention and the invention itself willbecome more apparent from the following description and drawing whichforms a part of this specification.

In the drawing showing specific embodiments of this invention;

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the end of a tin can equipped with oneform of valve of this invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the end of the can takenalong the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the closure in a partially closedposition; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view 'of the parts of Figure 2 in aclosed position; and

Figure 4 shows a preferred form of valve made according to thisinvention.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, throughout which likeparts have been designated by like reference characters, 1 designates acan body having an end 2 in which is formed a port 12. The container mayhave the other end formed in any well known manner. The end 2 includes ashort cylindrical wall 3 which is adapted to be folded with the edge ofbody 1 and crimped into a bead 4 substantially as shown or in any otherconventional form to provide a fluid tight seal. The manner of securingthe end 2 to the body 1 is such as to leave the inner surface of thewall 3 free from obstructions. An annular groove 6 is provided adjacentto the cylindrical wall 3 of the end 2, and suitable packing, such asrubber gasketing '7 may be disposed in this groove but such a packing isnot indispensable. Extending from the annular groove 6 toward the centerof the end is a frusto-conical plane portion 8 which terminates inanother annular groove 9, also provided with suitable packing or gasketmaterial 10. The central portion of the end 2 bounded by the groove 9slopes inwardly toward the interior of the can to provide an annularconcave portion 11 extending to a central aperture (Io-operating withthe member 2 is another cup-like valve member 20, which includes acylindrical wall 21 adapted to be telescoped withinthe wall 3 of themember 2. The member 20 is provided with a plurality of grooves or ribs22, 65 24 and 25, adapted to correspond with and seat in the grooves 6,9 and 11 of the end 2 respectively. From rib 22 extends a frusto-conicalplane 23 corresponding to the plane 8 of the member 2. The space 25 inthe center of the member 20 bounded by the rib 24 is concave-convexadapted to seat on the annular portion 11 andto close the aperture 12.

The plane 23 of the member 20 is provided with a plurality of tongues 27defined by V-shaped slits in the wall, the material embraced by each 'Vforming a tongue which is displaced downward as best shown in Figure 2to act as spacers between end 2 and valve 20 while the aperture .12 isto be kept open.

The can having been filled with the material which is to be processedand/or sealed therein, and the end 2 having been secured in place andsealed to the body 1 as by crimping, the valve member 20 is inserted insuch a manner that the 5 tongues 27 rest on the wall 8 of the end 2. Thevalve 20 will have frictional engagement at its circumference with theinner surface of the marginal flange of end 2. In this position thevalve is open, and fluids may pass in either direction through theaperture 12 and through the apertures 28 formed by the V-shaped slitsand tongues 27.

' When the can is to be sealed the valve member 20 is pressed into end2,-the wall 21 telescoping frictionally within the wall 4, the concaveportion 25 closing the aperture 12, the annular rib 24 seating in theannular groove 9 and the gasket material assisting to form a leakproofseal, the tongues 27 being bent into their original undism tortedposition, and the rib 22 seating into groove 6. The V-shaped slits maybe covered with a suitable material to seal the same. The-peripheralwall 21 being closely seated in the wall 4 provides still another seal,and the friction there- 5 between'prevents displacement of the valve,particularly where the pressure in the container is either below or nottoo far above atmospheric pressure.

In Figure 4 is shown a modified and preferred larger diameter valvemaybe desirable.

form of the present invention. .In this modification the valve is muchsmaller in diametrical' dimensions than in the modification of Figures1, 2 and 3.

In Figure 4, l designates a fragmentary portion of one end of the bodyof a tin can container, provided with an end 30 suitably secured at itsperiphery to body 1 as by crimping or in any other well known andsuitable manner. Near the center of end 30 a depression is formed havinga generally cylindrical wall 31 with a circumferential curve 32, a planeor slightly conical portion 33 therewithin at the inner margin of whicha second curve 34 is disposed, the inner periphery of which extendsconically downward as at 35 to define an aperture 36. Suitable sealingor gasket material 37 may be disposed in curves 32 and 34.

The valve 38 is shaped to fit with frictional engagement within thecylindrical wall 31, and consists of an upstanding marginal flange 39and a disc-like end shaped with a curve 40 to seat in curve 32, a secondcurve 41 to seat in curve 34, a generally conical portion 42 betweenthese two curve portions to engage or practically engage the conicalportion 33 and a concave-convex central portion 43 to seat on theconical portion 35 and close the aperture 36. The conical portion 42 hasV-shaped portions 42 formed by V-shaped cuts. through the wall 42 andpressed down to serve as guides for spacing the valve 38 away The valveof this invention possesses certain apparent advantages, among which maybe enumerated the possibility of utilizing the valve on containers ofvarious sizes from containers having small ends where a modification ofFigure 4 may be desirable to containers having larger ends where theadditional strengthening effect of the Furthermore, due to theconsiderable amount of spacing between the valve proper and thecontainer end as is regulated and determined by the V-shapedperforations, various fluids, including liquids as well as gases may bepassed through the valved aperture. This is often desirable incaseswhere a syrup is to be put into the container after the bulkyproduct in the container has been processed.

Having thus described the invention in different embodiments thereof,what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is defined in what isclaimed.

It is claimed- 1. A valveddevice for a container comprising a containerend to be hermetically secured to the container wall and a valve, thesaid end having a cylindrically projecting wall and being provided witha circular aperture, the surface of the end surrounding the apertureforming a seat, a concentric curved portion adjacent thereto and thevalve having a cylindrically projecting wall adapted to engagefrictionally with the said cylindrical wall of the container end and aportion on said valve of spheroidal formation having a concentric ribaround the same adapted to close the aperture and seat in the surfaceadjacent thereto with the said rib disposed in the concentric curvedportion when the valve is in seated assembled pocontainer wall and avalve, the. said end having a cylindrically projecting wall and beingprovided with a circular aperture, the surface of the end surroundingthe aperture forming a seat, a concentric curved portion adjacentthereto, and the valve having a cylindrically projecting wall adapted toengage frictionally with the said cylindrical wall of the container endand a portion on said valve of spheroidal formation having a concentricrib around the same adapted to close the aperture and seat in thesurface adjacent thereto with the said rib disposed in the concentriccurved portion when the valve is in seated assembled position in thecylindrical projection, and a seal-- ing material disposed between therib and said concentric curved portion.

3. A valved device for a container comprising a container end adapted tobe secured to the container and a valve, the said end having acylindrical projection and being provided with an aperture, the surfaceof the end adjacent the aperture forming a seat, and the valve having acylindrical wall adapted to engage frictionally with the saidcylindrical wall of the container end, and a portion on said valveadapted to close the aperture and seat in the surface adjacent thereto,a plurality of vents disposed in the valve spaced from the seatingportion of the valve and tongues formed by said vents and adapted toclose the vents when the valve is in seated assembled position in thecylindrical projection.

4. A valved device for a container comprising a container end adapted tobe secured to the container and a valve, the said end having acylindrical projection and being provided with an aperture, the surfaceof the end adjacent the aperture forming a seat, and the valve having acylindrical wall adapted to engage frictionally with the saidcylindrical wall of the container end and a portion on said valveadapted to close the aperture and seat in the surface adjacent theretowhen the valve is in seated assembled position in the cylindricalprojection'and a plurality of vents disposed in the valve spaced fromthe seating portion of the valve, and adapted to be closed when thevalve is seated.

5. A valved device for a container comprising a container end adapted tobe secured to the container and a valve, the said end having acylindrical projection and being provided with an aperture, the surfaceof the end adjacent the aperture forming a seat and a concentric curvein the surface adjacent thereto, said valve having a cylindrical walladapted to engage frictionally with the said cylindrical wall of thecontainer end, and aportion on said valveadapted to close the apertureand seat in the surface adjacent thereto and a rib adapted to seat onsaid concentric curve, a plurality of vents disposed in the valve spacedfrom the seating portion of the valve and tongues formed by said ventsand adapted to close the vents when the valve is in seated assembledposition in the cylindrical projection, said vents adapted to providefluid access to theinterior of the container when the valve is placed ina partially closed position.

6. A valved device for a container comprising a container end adapted tobe secured to the container and'a; valve, the said end having acylindrical projection and being provided with an aperture, the surfaceof the end adjacent the aperture forming a seat and a plurality ofspaced channels concentrically disposed about said aperture, andthevalve having a cylindrical wall adapted to engage frictionally with thesaid cylindrical wall of the container end, and a portion on said valveadapted to close the aperture and seat on the surface adjacent thereto,and a plurality of spaced concentric ribs adapted to seat in saidchannels, vents disposed in the valve intermediate the concentric ribsand tongues formed by said vents and adapted to close the vents when thevalve is in seated assembled position in the cylindrical projection.

7. In combination, a container having secured thereto an end closurewall formed with an annular valve seat defined by cylindrical projectingside walls and a bottom wall having an annular valve aperture therein,the wall around said aperture being formed with an annular sealingrecess concentric with said aperture, and a valve member havingcylindrical side walls adapted to telescope into, and be retained inplace by frictional engagement with the projecting side walls of saidseat and formed with a closure wall which is complemental to the saidbottom wall and having a depression adapted to seat in said aperturewalls of the valve seat by frictional engagement therewith, said valvemember having a disk-like wall formed integrally with said cylindricalside walls thereof, the said disk-like wall having a curved portionadapted to seat in and close the said aperture in the bottom wall of thevalve seat and also having an annularprojection on its lower surfaceadapted to seat in the annular recess in the said bottom wall of thevalve seat.

JOHN MILLS.

